Choosing a Lawyer For Your Criminal Defense

When you've been charged with a crime, it's not only important that you find a lawyer, but that you find a good one. But finding a good attorney is easy. What's even more essential—and will take a bit more digging—is finding the right one for you. There's a difference, and it could be a substantial one. There are a lot of things to take into consideration when making your choice. Does the attorney you're thinking of hiring have experience handling the kinds of cases you're involved in? Will they be available to take your calls when you have a question? Will they be open to your collaboration? These and other factors can determine who you should hire.

Specific Experience

If you've been charged with marijuana possession, hiring a lawyer mostly experienced with capital murder cases may not be an appropriate route to take. Likewise, hiring an attorney who rarely ventures beyond traffic court won't be a great move for your prostitution defense. You need to not only find a well respected, experienced attorney, but one who has the kind of specific experience you need. Each small area of law comes with enormous differences. If you try to apply the basic defense for one crime to another, things may not turn out as well as you had hoped.

Advertising Means Nothing

While advertisements on TV can help make you aware of who is out there, they aren't going to do anything to help you choose a lawyer. Anyone can look tough and intimidating with the help of the right ad agency. You need to dig a little deeper if you want to find someone who will defend you aggressively in the face of serious charges. Another thing to consider: the firms that spend the most on advertising are usually the largest ones. Chances are slim that you will even be meeting with the guy you see in all the ads, so prepare for disappointment if that's what you expect.

The Importance of the Consultation

A criminal lawyer will use the initial consultation to feel out a potential client, look at the case, and decide whether or not this is something he's willing to get involved in. But this consultation is for you as well. Use this time to evaluate what you think about the lawyer and whether you could see hiring them. Treat it almost like a job interview, since in many ways that's exactly what it is. Does the attorney seem excited or even interested in your case? What kind of credentials and track record is he bringing to the table? These and other questions can help you make the right choice.